Unit 633 Fishlake
Big timber, high lakes and the Fish Lake Hightop — a limited-entry mule deer unit paired with Utah's trophy Fishlake elk zone.
South-central Utah — Fish Lake Plateau · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
686
sq mi
Public land
85%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–11,633
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
The Fishlake unit surrounds Fish Lake and the Fish Lake Hightop Plateau, which crests above 11,600 feet on the Fishlake National Forest between the Sevier Valley and the Fremont River country. Aspen-covered ridges, spruce-fir basins and scattered high lakes give it classic high-plateau character, with Johnson Valley Reservoir and the Fremont drainage on its flanks and the towns of Loa, Salina and Koosharem ringing the base. It is a well-regarded limited-entry mule deer unit with healthy herds and good scenery, and its bulls are managed for trophy age class under the Fishlake/Thousand Lakes limited-entry elk unit.
Terrain
A high forested plateau crowned by the Fish Lake Hightop (11,633 ft), with rolling aspen-conifer ridges and lake basins on top falling through steep creek drainages to sage benches and the Sevier and Fremont river valleys.
Cover: Extensive aspen — including the famous Pando clone near Fish Lake — with spruce-fir on the high ridges, grading through ponderosa pine and Gambel oak to pinyon-juniper and big sagebrush on the lower benches; broad meadows and lake basins break the timber up high.
Landmarks: Fish Lake · Fish Lake Hightop Plateau (11,633 ft) · Johnson Valley Reservoir · Pando aspen clone · Fremont River · Koosharem Reservoir
Access
The plateau core is Fishlake National Forest with BLM and open SITLA state trust ground on the flanks, giving strong public access. SR-25 runs along Fish Lake to Johnson Valley Reservoir, and well-maintained forest roads feed rougher four-wheel-drive and ATV routes onto the ridges. Private ranch and farm ground fills the Sevier Valley and Koosharem, Loa and Fremont valley bottoms; the developed Fish Lake resort corridor draws heavy recreation traffic in season.
Managers: USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private
Access points: SR-25 / Fish Lake Scenic Byway from SR-24 · Johnson Valley Reservoir road · Gooseberry / Salina Canyon forest roads (north) · Koosharem and Grass Valley roads (west) · Forest roads off the Fremont River side (southeast)
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyA sought-after limited-entry mule deer unit with healthy herds and a good chance at a mature buck in relatively approachable high country. Bucks hold in the aspen-conifer ridges, oak brush and meadow edges.
- →Glass aspen-meadow edges and creek-drainage heads at first and last light
- →Still-hunt spruce-fir and oak-brush pockets where older bucks bed during the day
- →Work the timber-to-sage transition on the lower benches
- →Hunt away from the busy Fish Lake resort corridor to find less-pressured deer
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyPart of the trophy-managed Fishlake/Thousand Lakes limited-entry elk unit — one of Utah's strong quality bull hunts, with healthy herds using the aspen basins, high meadows and timber around the lakes.
- →Bugle-locate bulls at dawn from high glassing points, then move in through the aspen
- →Hunt meadow-timber edges and lake basins where cows feed
- →Check springs and wallows in the high parks through the rut
- →Be patient and selective — the unit produces mature, heavy bulls
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the extensive aspen, oak brush and berry draws across the plateau.
- →Glass oak-brush and aspen benches feeding on mast and berries in early fall
- →Check thick spring-fed draws on the timbered slopes
Cougar
common opportunityMountain lions follow the strong deer and elk herds through the timber and canyon breaks.
- →Cut for tracks on the plateau and canyon roads after fresh snow
- →Focus on deer wintering benches on the lower flanks
Pro tips
- →Get away from the busy Fish Lake / Johnson Valley recreation corridor to find less-pressured deer and elk.
- →Glass the aspen-meadow edges and lake basins on top early, then work the transition slopes as weather pushes game down.
- →For the limited-entry elk tag, hunt the rut in the high aspen basins and be selective — this unit grows big bulls.
- →Time a later hunt to the first hard storms to catch deer sliding off the Hightop.
- →Carry mud and cold-weather gear; the high roads get slick and snowbound fast.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch and farm ground in the Sevier, Koosharem and Fremont valleys
- !Heavy recreation traffic in the Fish Lake resort corridor
- !Snow and slick roads on the high plateau early in the fall
- !Popular limited-entry unit — expect other hunters in the accessible high country
Logistics
Richfield and Salina to the northwest are the largest service towns for fuel, lodging and groceries, with Loa and Koosharem smaller stops nearer the unit. Fish Lake itself has developed resorts and campgrounds and heavy summer-fall traffic. Forest roads onto the ridges get rough and greasy when wet and hold snow into fall at these elevations; dispersed and developed camping are widely available on the Fishlake National Forest.
Nearest towns: Loa, Salina, Richfield, Koosharem, Fremont
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Utah sources:
Research sources: UDWR Utah Big Game Application Guidebook 2026 · GOHUNT — Utah Fishlake Deer Unit Profile · GOHUNT — Utah Fishlake/Thousand Lakes Elk Unit Profile · Fish Lake (Utah) — Wikipedia
FAQ
- How big is Unit 633 in Utah?
- Unit 633 (Fishlake) covers about 686 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 11,633 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 633?
- Approximately 85% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Fishlake NF, BLM, SITLA, private. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 633?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Utah agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
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